Take your astronomy hobby to the next level with a quality telescope from among the
top manufacturers of telescopes and telescope accessories. Do you know the most
important consideration when buying a telescope? Read Let There Be Light ! ==>
top manufacturers of telescopes and telescope accessories. Do you know the most
important consideration when buying a telescope? Read Let There Be Light ! ==>
GENERAL FEATURES:
Easy to assemble 127mm (5") German
Equatorial reflector
Slow motion controls for smooth tracking
3x Barlow lens triples the magnifying
power of each eyepiece
Finderscope: 5x24
Includes two 1.25" eyepieces
Includes CD-ROM "The Sky" Astronomy
Software and pre-assembled aluminum
tripod and accessory tray
Easy to assemble 127mm (5") German
Equatorial reflector
Slow motion controls for smooth tracking
3x Barlow lens triples the magnifying
power of each eyepiece
Finderscope: 5x24
Includes two 1.25" eyepieces
Includes CD-ROM "The Sky" Astronomy
Software and pre-assembled aluminum
tripod and accessory tray
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NewExplorations.Net
All rights reserved.
NewExplorations.Net
All rights reserved.
Telescope Recommendations
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| Let There Be Light ! Two of the most common questions posed by first time observers are “How powerful is this telescope?” and “What is the magnification?” Usually, the larger the size of the telescope, the larger the expectation that the magnification will be a number of “astronomical” proportions. The actual answer is often met with disappointment. This reflects a common misunderstanding – that is, that magnification is the most important determinant of the quality of the image seen through the telescope. In actuality, the more important characteristic influencing performance, in terms of image quality, is the amount of light that the telescope can gather into its optical system. This is determined by the diameter of the telescope’s main mirror or lens (also known as the telescope’s “objective” mirror or lens). The larger the diameter of the telescope’s objective, the more light that is gathered and the more detailed the image. Why is the amount of incoming light so important? More light means a brighter image, one that is easier to see. Then magnification can be applied to enlarge the image. However, the same amount of light is now spread over the larger image. Thus, the image becomes dimmer as it is magnified. Therefore, an image that is dim to begin with, as with a small diameter telescope, can only be magnified so much before the image quality deteriorates to the point where it is worthless. Given that a telescope’s diameter (or “aperture”) is so critical to its capability, bigger is usually better. For instance, for a reflecting telescope (which uses a mirror as its objective) an aperture in the range of 4” – 6” is generally considered to be the smallest practical size for getting started in telescopic astronomy. By way of comparison, a reflecting telescope with a 12” mirror gathers 300% (or 4 times) as much light as a 6” telescope. The maximum practical magnification for a 6” telescope would be, perhaps, 350 to 400 times. For a 12” telescope, this range would be twice as high. Moving beyond the amateur telescope, astronomers and cosmologists today perform their research with telescopes of mammoth proportions. For instance, the Hubble Space Telescope orbiting above the Earth’s atmosphere boasts a primary mirror of 2.4 meters (nearly 8 feet). This offers tremendous light gathering power, particularly when combined with the quality of that light which is undisturbed by the Earth’ s atmosphere. Compared to the naked eye, Hubble gathers over 100,000 times as much light. This explains the beautifully detailed images we have come to expect from Hubble. Back on Earth, big seems hardly adequate to describe the Very Large Telescope (VLT) project. This observatory in northern Chile consists of four telescopes with primary mirrors each 8 meters in diameter. Even better, the light from these four telescopes can be combined electronically to produce an effective light gathering power that is equivalent to a telescope with a single mirror that is 16 meters (over 50 feet) in diameter. Magnification is certainly desirable when looking through a telescope, but the critical ingredient is best expressed by the maxim “Let there be light!” |
Quality Telescopes are Becoming More Affordable All the Time!
Celestron PowerSeeker 114 EQ
The Celestron PowerSeeker 114 EQ is a
high-quality, economical telescope; a
great choice for children and families.
The PowerSeeker 114EQ yields
breathtaking views of the moon, Saturn
with its ring structure, Jupiter and its
belts, and hundreds of deep-sky objects
including: galaxies, nebulae and star
clusters.
This 4.5" diameter reflector telescope
includes 2 eyepieces, an equatorial
mount, adjustable tripod, accessory tray,
and finder-scope.
The Celestron PowerSeeker 114 EQ is a
high-quality, economical telescope; a
great choice for children and families.
The PowerSeeker 114EQ yields
breathtaking views of the moon, Saturn
with its ring structure, Jupiter and its
belts, and hundreds of deep-sky objects
including: galaxies, nebulae and star
clusters.
This 4.5" diameter reflector telescope
includes 2 eyepieces, an equatorial
mount, adjustable tripod, accessory tray,
and finder-scope.
The Celestron
PowerSeeker series
of telescopes is designed
to give the first-time buyer
the perfect combination of
quality, value, features
and power. Offering
exceptional value, these
telescopes feature
portable yet powerful
designs with ample
optical performance to
excite any newcomer to
the world of amateur
astronomy.
PowerSeeker series
of telescopes is designed
to give the first-time buyer
the perfect combination of
quality, value, features
and power. Offering
exceptional value, these
telescopes feature
portable yet powerful
designs with ample
optical performance to
excite any newcomer to
the world of amateur
astronomy.
Star Chart
shows the location of
the stars,
constellations and
planets relative to the
horizon for the exact
hour and date you
determine.
shows the location of
the stars,
constellations and
planets relative to the
horizon for the exact
hour and date you
determine.
FREE ground shipping on all Edmund Scientific orders for Black Friday code: SHOPFRID valid 11/26-11/30. Shop Now!
Astroscan Telescope
The Stargazer's Choice
Best-Selling introductory telescope for
Over 30 Years!
The original Edmund Scientific Astroscan
is an inexpensive, high-performance
telescope that is easy-to-use,
maintenance-free and completely
portable. Its wide field of view, beautiful
images and ease of use make it an
excellent telescope for beginner and
expert stargazers alike.
The Stargazer's Choice
Best-Selling introductory telescope for
Over 30 Years!
The original Edmund Scientific Astroscan
is an inexpensive, high-performance
telescope that is easy-to-use,
maintenance-free and completely
portable. Its wide field of view, beautiful
images and ease of use make it an
excellent telescope for beginner and
expert stargazers alike.
Edmund AstroMax Telescope
Take advantage of features popular in
both refractor and reflector telescopes
with this economical scope.
The Maksutov-Cassegrain optical system
includes a primary mirror and a meniscus
for sharp, high contrast images. You can
view planets, the moon, star clusters,
and more with vivid representations.
Though an amateur scope, this model
offers many advanced features,
including strong light gathering power, a
heavy duty mount for accurate tracking,
and larger aperture.
Take advantage of features popular in
both refractor and reflector telescopes
with this economical scope.
The Maksutov-Cassegrain optical system
includes a primary mirror and a meniscus
for sharp, high contrast images. You can
view planets, the moon, star clusters,
and more with vivid representations.
Though an amateur scope, this model
offers many advanced features,
including strong light gathering power, a
heavy duty mount for accurate tracking,
and larger aperture.
Meade DS-2130ATS-LNT Telescope
An excellent choice for the serious amateur.
Meade's new 130mm (5.1") diameter
altazimuth reflector scope has a focal length
of 1,000mm (f/7.7) and features two 1.25"
Super Plossl eyepieces with premium
4-element oculars that provide a stunning
52degree apparent field of view. The scope
is equipped with Meade's new red dot
viewfinder with LNT(TM), which makes
locating objects quick and easy, and a Meade
#494 AutoStar(R) controller (with an
instructional DVD), which automatically
locates and points the scope to over 1,400
celestial objects at the push of a button. The
altazimuth mount and aluminum adjustable
tripod complete this stellar scope.
An excellent choice for the serious amateur.
Meade's new 130mm (5.1") diameter
altazimuth reflector scope has a focal length
of 1,000mm (f/7.7) and features two 1.25"
Super Plossl eyepieces with premium
4-element oculars that provide a stunning
52degree apparent field of view. The scope
is equipped with Meade's new red dot
viewfinder with LNT(TM), which makes
locating objects quick and easy, and a Meade
#494 AutoStar(R) controller (with an
instructional DVD), which automatically
locates and points the scope to over 1,400
celestial objects at the push of a button. The
altazimuth mount and aluminum adjustable
tripod complete this stellar scope.
Celestron Powerseeker 80EQ Telescope
Open Up the Wonders of the Universe with this
affordable starter telescope.
Reveal the night sky to the aspiring astronomer
with this PowerSeeker series telescope, designed
to give the first-time telescope user the perfect
combination of quality, value, features and power.
Quick and easy to set up, the scope does not
require any tools to construct. Its sturdy
equatorial mount is perfect for tracking objects in
the night sky, and the collapsible altazimuth
mount is perfectly suited for terrestrial and
astronomical use.
Fully coated glass optical components with high
transmission coatings provide enhanced image
brightness and clarity. Includes a full range of
eyepieces, accessory tray, The Sky Level 1
software with 10,000 object database, and a 3X
Barlow lens to increase viewing power hundreds
of times greater than that of the unaided eye.
Open Up the Wonders of the Universe with this
affordable starter telescope.
Reveal the night sky to the aspiring astronomer
with this PowerSeeker series telescope, designed
to give the first-time telescope user the perfect
combination of quality, value, features and power.
Quick and easy to set up, the scope does not
require any tools to construct. Its sturdy
equatorial mount is perfect for tracking objects in
the night sky, and the collapsible altazimuth
mount is perfectly suited for terrestrial and
astronomical use.
Fully coated glass optical components with high
transmission coatings provide enhanced image
brightness and clarity. Includes a full range of
eyepieces, accessory tray, The Sky Level 1
software with 10,000 object database, and a 3X
Barlow lens to increase viewing power hundreds
of times greater than that of the unaided eye.
